The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03
How could she write 70 him II that
knowledge was correct?

How could she write 70 him II that
knowledge was correct
"Ef," said Mott, kindly, with q laying
on Of large benedictory and paternal
hands, ''ef yer are willin' TO see Rosey
agin, without speakin' TO her, reckon
ken fix it for yer. I'm goin' to take her
down TO the boat In half an hour. FL yer
should happen-mind, ef yer should hap
pen to be down there, seem some friends
off and sorter promenadin' up and down
the wharf like them high toned chaps on
Montgomery street-ye might ketch her
eye unconscious like. Or, ye might do
thism He rose after moments cogita-
ton and with face of profound mystery
opened the door and beckoned Renshaw to
follow him. Leading the way cautiously,
he brought the young man into an open
unpartitioned recess beside her state room.
It seemed to he used rs store room, and
Renshaw's eye was caught by trunk the
size and shape of the one that had pro-
vided Rosey with the materials Of her
masquerade. Pointing toit Mr.. Mott said
in grave whisper: "This yer trunk is
the companion trunk to Rosey's. She's
got the things them opery women wears;
this yer contains the he things, the buds
and hxin's o. the men o. the same stripe"
Throwing II open he continues: "Now,
Mr.. Renshaw, gals is gals; it's nat'ral
they should be took by fancy dress and
store clothes on young chaps as on their
selves. That man Ferrers hez got the
dead wood on all Of ye in this sort Of
thing, and hez been playing, SO to speak,
| lone hand all along. And eff thar's any
thin in thar" he added, lifting part Of
a theatrical wardrobe, THAT you think
you'd fancy-anythin' you'd like to put
on when We promenade the wharf down
yonder-it's yours. Don't We be bashful,
but help yourself"
1t was fully a minute before Renshaw
fairly grasped the old mans meaning.
But when he did-when the suggested
| spectacle of himself arrayed Ia Ferrieres,
gravely promenading the wharf as last
gorgeous appeal to the affections of Rosey,
rose before his fancy, he gave way to
| fit of genuine laughter. the nervous
tension of the past few hours relaxed; he
| laughed until the tears came into his eyes;
he was still laughing when the door of
the cabin was suddenly opened and Rosey
appeared cold and distant on the thres.
hold.
I-beg your pardon" stammered Rem
shaw hastily. 81 didn't mean-to dis.
turb you'll
Without looking at him Rosey turned
to her father. ~ am ready" she said
coldly, and closed the door again.
A glance of artful intelligence came
into Motifs eyes, which had remained
blankly staring at Renshaw's apparently
causeless hilarity. Turning to him he
winked solemnly. "That keerless kind o.
boss laff jist fetched her." he whispered,
and vanished before his chagrined COM
panion could reply.
When Mr.. Mott and his daughter de-
parted Renshaw was not in the ship,
neither did he make spectacular appear
ance on the wharf as Mr.. Mott had fondly
expected, nor did he turn up again until
after O'Clock, when he found the old
man in the cabin awaiting his return with
some al citation. IA mint ago." he said,
mysteriously closing the door behind Rem.
shaw, 81 heard voice in the passage,
and goin' out who should see agin but
that darned Turin niger ez told yer
bout, kinder hidin' in the dark, his eyes
shinin' like catamount. | was jist
reachin' for my weppins when he riz up
with grin and handed me this yer letter.
/ told him reckoned you'd gone to Sac
ramento, but he said he WEI sure you was
in your room, and to prove 1t went thar.
But when KEN back the ID skunk
had vamoosed--got frightened, reckon
and wasn't nowhar to be seen"
Renshaw took the letter hastily. 1t
contained only q line in Sleight's hand.
III you change your mind the bearer
may be of service to you"
He turned abruptly to Mott. you say
it was the same Lascar you saw before'"
ut was"
"Then all can say is he is no agent Of
de Ferrieres," said Renshaw, turning
away with disappointed air. Mr.. Mott
would have asked another question, but
with an abrupt Good night the young
man entered his room, locked the door,
and threw himself on his bed to reflect
without interruption.
But if he was in no mood to stand
Motifs fatuous cOnjectures, he was less
inclined to be satisfied with his own. Had
he been again carried away through his
impulses evoked by the caprices of
pretty coquette and the absurd theories
of her half imbecile father Had he bro
ken faith with Sleight and remained in
the ship for nothing, and would not his
change of resolution appear to be the
result of Sleight's note' But why had
the Lascar been haunting the ship before9
In the midst of these conjectures he fell
asleep
CHAPTER VII.
Between and in the morning the
clouds broke over the Pontiac, and the